New Cuban Cement Tile from Aguayo Tile

By Bill Buyok, Avente Tile

A few weeks ago, I shared 2015 Tile Trends from my annual pilgrimage to Coverings, a trade show for tile and stone. I promised to share some other great new tile finds that Avente Tile will be adding to our offerings. Not being one to disappoint, I want to show the new Cuban Heritage Cement tile offerings from Aguayo.

Cuban Heritage Design 140 4B Cement Tile 

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Cuban Heritage Design 150 4A Cement Tile

Cuban Heritage Design 160 4A Cement Tile

Cuban Heritage Design 160 5B Cement Tile

Gray, Blue, and Earth Tones
The new Cuban Heritage colorways embrace the trends we have been seeing with color. You'll notice more straight-forward colorways using three or four colors. Also, you'll find slightly muted patterns using shades of gray and blue or warm earth tones and neutrals with an accent of color.

These new colorways have been created with you in mind. We want to make it easy for the designer and homeowner to use cement tile in the home.

Cuban Heritage Design 200 4A Cement Tile

Cuban Heritage Design 210 4B Cement Tile

Cuban Heritage Design 240 4B Cement Tile

Cuban Heritage Design 260 4B Cement Tile

Available Now and Soon to be Quick Shipped
These new colorways are available now. Although we have limited sample stock available at this time, we'll be adding these tiles to our stocked inventory and as a result, they'll be available for quick ship soon.

With a focus on quality and distinguished look all their own (compared to other suppliers), our Cuban Heritage cement tiles all come with a polished finish. Polished tiles have a slightly satin surface sheen, the desired patina that all cement floor tiles naturally develop over time. Polished tiles are also easier to install because the slightly smoother finish makes grout easier to remove from the surface.

Discover our entire Cuban Heritage Cement Tile collection  online now. The "Series 3" colorways, like CH260-3B, will no longer be stocked. These colorways are still available with a standard lead time of 8 to 10 weeks. Like all our cement tiles, these patterns can be customized with your choice of colors, Just contact us to let us know what you need.  Love Cuban Tiles?  Find out more in our post, A Brief Overview of Cuban Tiles.

See All Cuban Heritage Cement Tiles

More Exciting Cement Tiles from Avente Tile
It's not easy to get all of the new tile designs and lines we will  be offering from Coverings 2015 ready. I came back from the show energized and excited to share new tile inspiration, trends, and products. I'll share more new cement tile products and lines as we launch them over the next six weeks.

Tile Trends 2015: Variety is the Spice of Tile

By Bill Buyok, Avente Tile

Last week was action-packed as I made my annual pilgrimage to Coverings, a trade show for tile and stone. The week-long event took place in Orlando, Florida and was filled with highlights including seeing long-time friends, a face-to-face meeting with designer Alena Capra, and listening to Ryan Fasan, Tile of Spain's Technical consultant, speak about tile trends and design.

Bill Buyok, Avente Tile owner, at Coverings 2015

It's thrilling to share the industry trends with you and unveil our newest lines (drum roll please).

Hexagons are Hot
Anyone in attendance would agree that you could not avoid spotting the sexy six-sided polygon just about anywhere on the show floor. Hexagons tile formats were everywhere - as small mosaics, in elongated forms, bold colors, and in relief formats. Hands down, Elevations concave hexagon and 3D hexagon by Aguayo was one of my favorite tile finds.

Elevations 3D Hex in three shades of grey adds interest to a classic pattern with concave and convex dimension.

Concave Hexagon in black with a waxed finish is a new cast cement line from Aguayo.

Formats, Patterns, Texture and Technology Blend
Ryan Fasan mentioned that the tile industry is at an exciting crossroads of blending artisanal technique with technology to provide a blending of looks never before seen or achieved. Think of this as cement tile meets thin formats and ink jet printer techniques, Last year I saw wood-look, stone-look, and cement tile designs infused on porcelain tile. Now, these different material looks (wood, stone, metal, and pattern) are being subtly blended onto tile to create sophisticated designs. While this is most prevalent in the state-of-the-art factories of Spain and Italy, you are seeing the same effect in the hand-crafted tiles in the Americas.

The new Hex line by Original Mission Tile shows how classic shapes are mixed with pattern to create complex, interesting and modern designs.

Pattern plays on popular hexagon shapes using metal grey and warm earth tones.

The rustic wood look of this beach house vignette is created with tile

Cascading gold hexagon mosaics from Onix.

Textured Tile Shapes
There is a strong trend to add interest to classic geometric shapes with texture and relief. The popular hexagon shape gets reinterpreted with concave relief as shown above. But, I love the rich and sexy shape of this teardrop in chocolate brown. Wouldn't this be lovely in a bathroom with different shades of blue? This also part of the new Elevations line from Aguayo that will be available from Avente soon.

Concave drops in chocolate brown create the sumptuous look of leather and add richness with the relief texture.

Apavisa gold hexagons create a luxe look with a classic shape

Textile influences are also growing with the emphasis of textured surfaces. Pins and Needles is a line completely inspired by fabrics, lace, and textile. The cast cement line is available in almost any color; but I love this line in its classic look on white. This is another line by Aguayo Cement Tile.

Brussels Lace showcases texture inspired by fabric and lace.

The folks at In-Pietra from Mexico have captured the essence of creating dazzling texture in stone.

Texture created by carved stone and effective lighting adds richness to any design.

It's not easy to recap a week of inspiration, trends, and learning. I came back from the show energized and excited. This is the best of the best in one (short) post and captures the essence of the show and what excites me. I'll share more trends in a future posts as we launch many of these new lines over the next six weeks.

Patterned Tiles are Power Play at Coverings 2014

By Bill Buyok, Avente Tile.

While Coverings was celebrating its 25th anniversary in Las Vegas, I was celebrating something I hadn't seen much of at this annual tile and stone trade show since I've been attending: patterned tiles. Lot's of patterned tiles!

Apavisa's Hydraulic Blue pays homage to Classic Cement Tile Designs

I was thrilled to see patterned tile proudly promoting artisanal looks almost everywhere. While last week's post, New & Old Cement Tile Patterns Heat up the Strip, was supposed to be the last in a series to focus entirely on pattern and tile design, you'll see why this week's post is devoted to pattern once again: it shows how pattern is playing a big part in both design and tile trends.

Aparici's Vanguard embraces bold pattern and placement

Tile Returns to Its Artisanal Roots

Those of you who follow our blog know that I'm a big proponent both of color and pattern in design. So, I was thrilled to see many manufacturers embrace pattern in their 2014 tile designs! While pattern definitely took center stage, the underlying theme was a trend to create tiles with an artisanal look. I was thrilled to see porcelain tiles paying homage to traditional and contemporary cement tile patterns. A well-executed example of where pattern took precedence is with Apavisa's Hydraulic series.

Apavisa uses classic patterns and a straight-forward palette

Cement Tiles are often called hydraulic tiles in Spanish-speaking countries. To create cement tiles, each tile is hydraulically pressed as part of the manufacturing process. This is often called a "hydraulic look." Apavisa isn't shy about letting us know that the inspiration for these tiles comes from the cement tile manufacturing method that was first developed in Southern France during the mid 19th century. The tiles break from tradition using a larger 12-inch format,  and are available in four pleasing but limited colors of patchwork natural, grey natural, black natural and blue natural. 

Apavisa's Hydraulic Natural Patchwork has 27 random patterns

The patchwork natural colorway comes with 27 random patterns in each box! And remember, while the look is that of hand-crafted cement, these tiles are made entirely of porcelain.

I want to thank Lori Dolnick and Katie Sikorski for inviting me to participate in the Tile of Spain Press Conference and tour hosted by the always-insightful Ryan Fasan. As an advocate of hand-crafted ceramic and cement tile, I felt more connection than ever to these new porcelain tiles. Finally, a tip of the hat to Tile of Spain for exhibiting distinctively unique ceramic innovations at Coverings 2014!

Cement Tile Design Trends & Tips

I love the color in this cement tile floor. Notice how the cement tile pattern blends similar colors to create a simpler pattern?  If you're having trouble finding the right color, design or pattern, then these cement tile design trends may provide the answer you were looking for.

Traditional Sosua Cement Tile installed as a rug

If you're new to cement tiles, then these trends are the perfect designing tips for you!

Tip #1: Strong patterns can be "softened" with the use of similar colors that help blend a design together.

More ornate, traditional patterns are finding their way into homes with  fewer colors

Tip #2: Bold patterns can be softened with the use of muted colors.

Patterns will be less commanding if you use muted colors like this customer did with our Zebra pattern in B Colorway.

Tip #3: Geometric patterns using straightforward palettes with two or three colors are a great way to introduce cement tile and a bold splash of color into your home. It's also a strong design trend as homeowners, architects and designers consider cement tile for floors and kitchen or bathroom backsplash.

Cement Tile Design Trend: Geometric patterns using two to four colors

Cement Tile Color Trends

After returning from Coverings 2012, I was so ecstatic about the use of color in the tile I saw that I couldn't wait to get home so I could blog about it (see Tile Trends from Coverings 2012). For the first time in a very long time, I saw the use of color and color tile on the show floor. I'm thrilled to report that the trend continues from what I saw recently during Coverings 2013. Despite an extensive palette of more than 80 colors, I'm finding there is a strong design sense to use grey tones in cement tiles. In fact, Avente just submitted samples of Dark Shadow, Ash Grey, Grey, and Pewter for a new restaurant that will require more than 1,000 square feet of tile! I guess this shouldn't come as a big surprise. Interior Designer and go-to color maven, Lisa M. Smith, recently explained, Black, White & Gray – The New Fall Interior Palette.

Subtle and complex grey tones are popular color choices for cement tile.

The other strong trend has been the increased use of steel blues or gray-blues. The rendering below shows the final design and colors of the cement tiles destined for a New York City hotel. 

Traditional Bruselas cement tile rendering with Steel Blue Colors

Tip #4: Use colors in the pattern that already exist in your home.  Avoid bringing in new colors just because you like them.

Cement Tile Takes Shape With Arabesque Designs

Cement tiles are not confined to just a rectangular format. Their strength and durability easily lend themselves to the geometric, Moorish-inspired Arabesque cement tile patterns. Customers gravitate to the natural red, brown, and terracotta bisque colors these tiles adroitly mimic. However, the gray colors from this palette are a popular choice, too. 

Tip #5: A different format or shape in just one or two colors will provide interest and subtle texture.

Have a Question? A tip you'd like to share?
Do you have a favorite cement tile tip or nagging question? Contact us or leave a comment. We'd love to hear from you!

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Climbing Out with Color, Texture and Time in Tile

About Bathroom Blogfest

Bathroom Blogfest 2012 celebrates its seventh anniversary with the theme 'Still Climbing Out'. During the week of October 29 through November 2, 2012, bloggers interpret the theme in a blog post and provide their own unique perspective based on experiences and background. First, a round of applause goes to C.B. Whittemore, chief simplifier of Simple Marketing Now. C.B. makes this entire event possible and orchestrates it with style and ease. She is also hosting a Twitter chat on 10/31/12 via #KBTribeChat from 2pm to 3pm EST. Thank you, C.B.!

Avente Tile Talk has participated for three years in this annual event. We kicked-off this year's blogfest with Tile Talk Contributor, Arpi Nalbandian, explaining Ceramic Tile's Creative Nature. A list of participants is included at the end of this article. Read their posts and see how they are Still Climbing Out!

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We are Climbing Out

As the end of another year rapidly approaches and a presidential race looms large, it’s a good time to take stock of where we are at and where we want to go. I think most of agree with this year’s blogfest theme. There’s been a lot of progress; but, alas, we are still climbing out. The stock market is a great indication of optimism and confidence and it’s easy to see when you look at the Dow Jones over the past year.

The Down Jones is Still Climbing Out

Despite the cautious and fickle moods of Wall Street and the somewhat somber mood on Main Street, I’m optimistic about the future (perhaps to a fault). In fact, I’m really excited about what I’m seeing. The mission of the blogfest is to draw attention to how important the bathroom - and other forgotten spaces like bathrooms - are to the overall consumer experience. I’d like to focus on how tile is helping folks climb out and build a better bathroom (or any room) experience.

Climb Out with Color

I'm a big fan of color and pattern in design. One of my biggest frustrations is the ubiquitous 'sea of beige and white' tile. I’ve noticed a shift this year. I’ve seen more colorful tile at trade shows than ever before and the trend is coming to showrooms. I’ve also sent out an amazing array of colorful tile. Here’s photos of a recent sample order.

A colorful pattern: Monte Cristi Cement Tile

A colorful pattern: Ocoa Cement Tile

A colorful pattern: Melilla Cement Tile

This Chelsea (New York) kitchen was recently remodeled. The owners chose a colorful cement tile pattern for the backsplash. It looks fabulous and sets the standard for style. Don't tell me there isn't optimism out there! Folks are embracing color more than ever before.

The colorful patterned backsplash sets the style for this kitchen

Provide a Better Experience with Texture

The prevalence of texture is being found everywhere in tile. Texture adds interest and depth. Sometimes it is just the appearance of texture, created with geometric patterns, like this popular Cuban Heritage pattern.

Geometric Cuban Tile provides an illusion of texture

Large format tiles and stone tiles are are available in relief, too. I love these stone tiles by Galrão Group from Portugal. They transform stone into textured landscapes that are absolutely captivating.

Galrão Group's Wave Stone Tile

Even if folks balk at color, they will embrace the flowing geometric pattern in these concrete pavers that have surface roughness for a rustic look. It's a classic pattern in an updated color. Arabesque Cement Floor Tiles have low relief and are available from ARTO Tile & Brick.

Arabesque Cement Tiles Captivate with Pattern and Texture

Time to Choose

We are climbing out. Things are getting better - keep that great attitude! New trends in tile and design are making better experiences for any room. It might take longer than you want; but, I think you'll agree - it's a better place to be. Just take the time to design and choose the right tiles for your taste and needs.

Think about color and texture with tile and in no time you'll be looking at a better bathroom. What do you think? Can color, texture and tile make a better bathroom? What is most important to you?

KBTribe Chat Focus on Still Climbing Out

In addition to blog articles and social media content, Bathroom Blogfest will host a Twitter chat on 10/31/12 via #KBTribeChat from 2pm to 3pm EST. The Twitter Chat will focus on ‘Still Climbing Out: Bathroom Design After Cancer’ in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month co-hosted by Nora DePalma, principal, O’Reilly-DePalma, and C.B. Whittemore, chief simplifier, Simple Marketing Now.

Learn more about #KBTribechat and Bathroom Blogfest 2012 by visiting Bathroom Blogfest focused #KBTribechat.

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This year's participants include:

Name	Twitter Username	Blog Name	Blog URL
Susan Abbott	susanabbott	theIdeaStudio	www.theideastudio.ca
Laurence Borel	blogtillyoudrop	blog till you drop	www.laurenceborel.com
Bill Buyok	AventeTile	Avente Tile Talk	www.aventetiletalk.com
Jeanne Byington	jmbyington	The Importance of Earnest Service	blog.jmbyington.com
Mr. Steam	steamtherapy	The Mr. Steam SteamTherapy Blog	blog.mrsteam.com/
Nora DePalma	noradepalma	OR-DP POV	www.oreilly-depalma.com/blog
Stacy Garcia	kbtribechat	kbtribe	kbtribe.wordpress.com
Diane Kazan	dkazan	Public Bathroom Blog	thekazan.blogspot.com
Arpi Nalbandian	Arpi_Nalb	Avente Tile Talk	www.aventetiletalk.com
Victoria & Shelley Redshaw & Pond	scarletopus	Scarlet Opus Trends Blog	www.scarletopus.com
Sandy Renshaw	sandyrenshaw	Purple Wren	purplewren.com
Bruce D. Sanders	rimtailing	RIMtailing	rimtailing.blogspot.com
Paige Smith	none	Tile tips from installation professionals	neusetile.wordpress.com
Todd Vendituoli	TALV58	Thebuildingblox	www.thebuildingblox.com
Shannon Vogel	cyswebsites	From the Floors Up	fromthefloorsup.com
CB Whittemore	cbwhittemore	Content Talks Business Blog	simplemarketingnow.com/content-talks-business-blog/
Irene Williams	crossvilleinc	Elevate Your Space	elevateyourspace.wordpress.com
Linda Wright	lindaloo	Skip to the Loo!	lindaloo.com/

Cement Tiles Trend Toward Bold Patterns & Colors

Earlier this year I did a guest post for the Gold Notes blog called, Tile Trends from Coverings 2012. I reported that I was seeing a trend to use texture, color, and geometric patterns in tile. I'm excited about this trend because I like to see color and pattern embraced in design. Today I'll show a few examples of how that prediction is growing - based on the samples and installations we've been working on. Cement tiles have been extremely popular this this year and I want to show you how color and pattern are being used. Look at some of the samples we recently shipped.

Melilla Cement Tile

The Melilla Cement Tile use nine colors in this bold warm palette with a playful Latin feel. Our Montecristi pattern uses five colors here including: White, Antique Ivory, Gray, Indian Red, Peach Puff.

Montecristi Cement Tile

I love the bright Indigo inset with the warm Tibetan Gold in Geo 8 – the simple pattern reminiscent of ceramic tiles and is great for breakfast nook or patio.

Geo 8 Cement Tile

Cement tiles in strong patterns in a black and white or black/white/gray colorway are also popular. Neiba Cement Tile illustrates how a clean pattern in "basic black and white" creates a floor with a focal point in an easy-to-use and flexible palette. Try using an accent color like red to really make the design pop!

Neiba Cement Tile

Simple geometric patterns in basic colors are being used in both residential and commercial installations. The Geo 10 in our standard colorway of Cana Green and Suede remains very popular. The patterns generally work well in homes with contemporary architecture styles especially when utilizing a simple two or three-color palette.

Geo 10 Cement Tile

However, we have seen Geo 10 used in a residential application with the classic black and white in one bath and the Indian Red and white used in a different bathroom for the same home.

Geo 10 Cement Tile

Geo 9 in Indian Red and White will be used in the entry for a new bar opening in Chicago this fall.

Geo 9 Cement Tile

There are certainly a variety of styles and designs in the cement tile samples and installations we’ve seen recently. But, I think you get the sense that people are not afraid to try tiles with bright colors. And, there is definitely a design trend to use the classic geometric patterns in simple, easy-to-use colors like white, black, and red.

Curious? Take a look at our Geometric cement tile patterns and see if there is something that catches your eye.

What do you think of geometric patterns and bright colors in cement tile? How would you use brightly colored pattern tiles or geometric patterns in your kitchen, bath, or dinning room?

Moroccan Tile: In a Class of Its Own

Countries with colorful histories have always provided a deep-rooted fascination to outsiders because of their culture, traditions, food, and most importantly, the art produced within the country. It’s through this art that we, the current generation, are allowed to take a brief glimpse through the artist’s mind and eyes of what was seen, felt, and experienced at the time.

A central 10-point star is the beginning point of this expanding zillij pattern
Image Source: Ceramics Today via Saudi Aramco World. Photo Credits: Peter Sanders/Saudi Aramco World/PADIA.

But what if an art or art form remains unchanged through the centuries? Moroccan art and architecture has been steadily experiencing a renewed interest thanks to talented, visionary designer and architects. But for this post, I would like to focus on just one of these art forms -- the mesmerizing forms, colors and shapes of Moroccan tile, Zillij (also spelled as Zellige or Zellij).

The 17th-century Nejjarine Fountain, retiled and repaired by two generations of master zlayjis of the Benslimane family.
Image Source: Ceramics Today via Saudi Aramco World. Photo Credits: Peter Sanders/Saudi Aramco World/PADIA.

Zillij: Handmade through the Generations

When the Moors conquered Spain in 711 A.D., they introduced various forms of art and artistic techniques, including a unique custom of painted ceramics, called Zillij. As defined by Islamic law, which prohibits the depiction or likeness of living things, Zillij uses only geometric shapes, straight lines and vibrant colors.

These handmade creations can be seen adorning every palace, museum, home, street, mosque, fountain, wall, walkway, and so on.  It’s not only an art form; it’s an essential building material.

Zillij patterns, including a taqshir calligraphic border, at the Attarine madrasa (Islamic school), built in 1325.
Image Source: Ceramics Today via Saudi Aramco World. Photo Credits: Peter Sanders/Saudi Aramco World/PADIA.

Throughout its handmade history, Moroccan Zillij has been created by master craftsmen called “Maalam Ferach.” From an early age, pupils would study their craft under the tutelage of a master. Often times, techniques were handed down from one generation to the next within the male members of the family.

With the guidance of their mentors, the pupils would learn the essential, but laborious, task of baking clay, meticulously hand-cutting each piece, and then painting the pieces with painstaking accuracy. According to the authors of “Zillij: The Art of Moroccan Ceramics,” authors, John Hedgecoe and Samar Damluji, “Zillij mirrors the genius of the Moroccan craftsman, his feelings, values and commitment, reflecting his inspirations, spiritual and material composition.”

Zillij, or tilework of Morocco.Image Source: Ceramics Today via Saudi Aramco World. Photo Credits: Peter Sanders/Saudi Aramco World/PADIA.

The authors further go on to say, “Zillij has been employed in Morocco since the earliest times, as may be seen from the mosaic pavements of the old city of Walili (Volubilis). The Arab influx introduced, amongst other arts, the Zillij inspired by the Persian cut tile, al qishani, which still adorn the domes, mausoleums, and madrasahs [school] of Iranian cities like Isfahan. Zillij, however, was adapted to specific Moroccan and Andalusi characteristics that nearly obscured the trace of Persian origin.”

Handmade cement tile inspired by Moroccan patterns. "Fez" by Avente Tile.

With such attention to detail fostered by years of discipline and learning, it’s no wonder the long-lasting beauty and versatility of Zillij has remained popular amongst those who truly admire craftsmanship with the added touch of the exotic. A wonderful blog to follow for all things Moroccan is My Marrakesh. It’s written by author, designer and photographer, Maryam Montague.

How would you use Moroccan tile? Where have you traveled and seen Moroccan influences in tile and architecture?  

By Arpi Nalbandian, Tileometry